Michael Bay defends new Ninja Turtles script

Moviemaker Michael Bay has urged fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise to “chill” over his plans to recast the superheroes as aliens.

The Transformers director confirmed earlier this month he’s working on a new film featuring the martial arts-loving crimefighters but will change their origins to make them beings from outer space.

The news sparked outrage among some fans, and their concerns were echoed by one of the stars of the original franchise, Robbie Rist, who accused Bay of “sodomising” the hit story.

Now Bay has spoken out to urge critics not to pre-judge the movie, insisting he has no plans to wreck the characters’ legacy.

The director tells TMZ.com, “Fans need to take a breath, and chill. They have not read the script. Our team is working closely with one of the original creators of Ninja Turtles to help expand and give a more complex back story… Relax, we are including everything that made you become fans in the first place. We are just building a richer world.”